History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

ESTATE OF THE MORMON CHIEF. 675
Brigham was certainly a millionaire, but his fortune
barely sufficed to provide for bis family a moderate
competence, for he had married twenty wives, 49
and unto him were born more than fifty children,
of whom 16 boys and 29 girls survived him. In the
body of his will the wives were divided into classes,
and to each of them was given a homestead, the sum
of $25, payable one month after his decease, and such
amount payable in monthly instalments as in the
opinion of his executors might be needed for their
comfortable support. 50
opened an account with the branch of the Bank of England in that city, hut
finding their charges too high, transferred it to the Royal Bank of Liverpool,
where it remained between 1S50 and 1S67. On the failure of the bank I was
fortunate enough to get my money. There was a time in our business when
there was $20,000, or §30,000 to our credit. This money came from the profits
on publications, and from the deposits of people who wished to emigrate.
Donations were also remitted to us from Utah, and the company's fund was
sustained by the emigration business.' Franklin D. Richards, the author of
this manuscript, was nephew to Willard Richards, who, as will be remembered,
was appointed secretary of the Perpetual Emigration Fund Company. See p.
415, this vol.
49 In 1S69, at which date the Boston board of trade visited S. L. City,
Brigham said that he had 16 living and 4 deceased wives, and 49 surviving
children. This was the first time that Mormon or gentile knew how many
his family mustered. Utah Notes, MS. , 1-2. In Wake's The Mormon Prophet,
191-214, is a burlesqued description of some of his wives, and of their treatment.
Wife No. 19, or the Story of a Life in Bondage, being a Complete Expose
of Mormonism, by Ann Eliza Young, is, though the writer affects to be
impartial, rather a discharge of venom by a woman scorned. She was of
mature age when married, and if she had not then sense enough to understand
the responsibilities she was assuming, one would think that, some years
later, she ought at least to have had discretion enough to abstain from inflicting
her book and lectures on the public. The most valuable part of the
work, if it can be said to have any value, is the chapter on the case of Young
vs Young, in which Judge McKean awarded to the plaintiff $500 a month as
alimony, and committed defendant to jail for refusing to pay it. His decision
was reversed by Judge Lowe.
50 For copy of will, see 8. L. C. Tribune, Aug. 19, 1883. It has been alleged
that Brigham claimed to be a prophet. This he distinctly denied. In
Utah Notes, MS., it is stated that the lame, halt, and blind flocked to him to
be healed, and that he used great tact in dealing with them. One man who
had lost a leg came to him to be made whole. Brigham said it should be as
he wished; but those created with two legs would have two legs in heaven;
hence, if he caused a new one to be framed, the man would have three for
all eternity.
Patriarch and President John Young, brother to Brigham, died April 27,
1870. For biographical sketch, see Deseret News, May 4, 1870. The decease
of Joseph A., Brigham's eldest son, occurred Aug. 10, 1875. For biography,
see Utah Jour. Legist., 1876, pp. 206-8. On July 10th of this year died
Martin Harris, one of the three witnesses to the authenticity of the book of
Mormon. His age was 92. Among others whose decease occurred during
the period to which this chapter refers may be mentioned Ezra Taft Benson,